First step in Caniff reconstruction is now underway

Sewer line replacement began on Caniff Ave. this past week, which is the first step toward an eventual rebuilding of the street from the I-75 service drive to Jos. Campau Ave. Expect traffic delays.

By Charles Sercombe
First came the rebuilding of Holbrook.
Now it’s Caniff’s turn, and prepare to be inconvenienced. With Caniff being the main artery to I-75, this disruption is going to test the patience of many.
Work crews began this week to replace sewer lines at Caniff and Lumpkin, but the street is actually blocked off at Mackay.
After the sewer lines are replaced, the street will be torn up and then repaved.
Along the way, houses and buildings will be getting new water lines to replace the old lead lines. Houses and commercial buildings were delivered a notice about the work, and property owners must contact the city to grant permission to have their lead water lines replaced.
The rebuilding will go from the I-75 service drive up to Jos. Campau.
It’s being funded mostly through a federal grant. The city has to also kick in $300,000 from its annual state road repair grant.
The total cost is $1.5 million.
Hamtramck being Hamtramck, there are already complaints about the disruption on social media. Some folks say the city should have informed the public before work began.
Notices were delivered several weeks ago to homes and businesses along Caniff. The project was approved by the city council about two years ago, and the city manager has talked about this project this year.
Just like the Holbrook project, which was a much longer stretch of road and was completed in two phases, it will take pretty much the entire warm-weather season to complete the project.
April 9, 2021